The term Zalpha is a
portmanteau of "Generation Z" and "Generation Alpha". It refers to a micro-generation or
cusp generation that bridges the two larger cohorts. The concept has been discussed in international contexts, including European marketing literature and academic research. == Date and age range definitions == There is no single universally agreed-upon birth-year range for Zalphas, as generational boundaries are fluid and subject to debate. Sources generally place them in the late–2000s to mid–2010s, often overlapping with the end of
Generation Z and the beginning of
Generation Alpha. McCrindle Research, which coined the term "Generation Alpha" and popularized the concept of Zalpha, describes Zalphas as individuals born on the cusp between Generation Z (1995–2009) and Generation Alpha (2010–2024), based on McCrindle's definition for the two generations respectively. Rather than defining a strict numerical range, McCrindle emphasizes the transitional nature of the cohort as a bridge between the two generations. Gina Desiderio (
Healthy Teen Network) defines
Gen Sigma as those born between 2007 and 2013. Ben Rosen (
Connect) and Vicki Ostrom and Sonia Mulford Chaverri (
Screen Printing Mag) define the cuspers as those born between 2008 and 2014. Geetika Chhatwal defines the cuspers as those born between 2010 and 2015. Other international sources include Maarten Leyts, a Belgian author and generational expert (who defines the cohort as 2006–2012), 20Something, a European perspective in Belgium (which defines it as 2008–2013), and academic studies in Poland (e.g., Springer-published research). == Characteristics ==